Job 6

Job 6:1

But Job answered] Here I will summe up together his first Answers to each of the three friends; as I did formerly their several first speeches to him. Here then, He aments the most woful extremity of this misery which God inflicts upon him, so that his Complaints are not causelesse; he wisheth that God would cut him off, and complaineth of the unpitifulnesse of his friends towards him, chap. VI. He reneweth the mention, and bemoaning of his miseries, as insupportable: he wisheth death: confesseth his sinfulnesse; and craveth pardon, chap. VII. He acknowledgeth man cannot contend with God; and that he will not answer God, or contend to justifie himself, though he were righteous, which he is not; but makes supplication to his Judge.

He saith, God destroyes the perfect and the wicked; that his dayes are few; his sorrowes are great; that God will not hold him innocent; that he cannot answer God; yet would willingly speak to him, if his rod, and terrours were taken away from him, chap. IX.

He will speak to God and say, wherfore doest thou so contend with me; and search after my sinne? Thou knowest I am not wicked: Thy hands have made me: If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head; I am full of confusion; Thou huntest me as a fierce Lion: Oh that I had not been borne. Cease then, that I may take comfort a little before I die, chap 10. He reproves his friends for their pleadings against him: He knowes what they know, and say, viz. That God doth all things in the governing of the affairs and states of men; even of the great ones. chap. XII.

Again reproves his friends, as before; and checks them for pleading for God, in a wrong maner: bids them hold their peace; that he may speak: professeth his trust in God; his uprightnesse, void of Hypocrisie; and that he shall be justified: he desires of God to know his iniquity, for which he writeth such bitter things against him, Chap. XIII.

He entreateth God for favour by the shortnesse of life, and certainty of death; though life once lost be irrecoverable; yet he waighteth for his change: he complains that God watcheth over his sinne; and concludes that God prevaileth over man, chap. XIV.

Job 6:5

Doth the wilde Asse] So neither do I complaine, if I had not so great a cause as ver. 3, 4.

Job 6:6

Can that] Can it with any pleasure? much lesse if it be bitter, as mine afflictions are; and your unsavoury words. So the application seemes to be made in the next verse.

Job 6:9

Cut me off] His wealth and health were taken away before; now he desires that his life may be so.

Job 6:10

not concealed] But professed before others, his word and worship.

Job 6:13

Is not] Any help in me, and defence for me, against these evills, and your words?

Job 6:14

Pitie should] Here he strikes at Eliphaz; and continues on so to do to the end of this Chapter.

Job 6:19

Tema] That part of Arabia where the posterity of Tema, one of Ishmaels race, Gen. XXV. 15. did inhabit See Jer. XXV. 23.

Sheba] In Arabia Foelix, South from Iudea; whose Queen came to Solomon. And whereof we read Psal. LXXII. 10. Esay XLIII. 3. and LX. 6. Ier. VI. 20. Ezek. VII. 22, 23. and XXXVIII. 13. These seeme to be the posterity of Cush, by his fourth sonne Raamah, Gen. X. 7. The Ethiopians were no remote neighbours from them.

Job 6:21

ye are nothing] Hebr. not, or, as the Masorets in the margin, to it; i. e. ye are like to that brook, ver. 15. See the like various reading, Ch. XIII. 15. Psal. C. 3. Esay LXIII. 9. Exod. XXI. 8.

Job 6:26

to reprove words] As if my speeches were words without matter, words of a desperate brainlesse man?

my righteousnesse is in it] Ye shall finde me no hypocrite, if ye consider better.